WEATHERSFIELD — Kenneth Floyd Young, 91, a lifelong resident of Springfield/Weathersfield, passed away on Saturday, February 23, 2013, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. He was born June 15, 1921, in Springfield, the son of Floyd C. and Miriam (Haskell) Young. He received his schooling in Weathersfield Bow.

On June 25, 1947, he married Alice E. Allen in Windsor, Vt.

Ken owned and operated Maple Lane Farm, where he was born, until his son, Ken, took over in 1980 and renamed it the Milky Way Farm. His love of farming began as a small boy working next to his father. As an adult, he continued farming and logging with horses and enjoyed going to draft horse pulling competitions in what little time he could squeeze into his long days. After he retired from dairying, he continued to work with his son, Ken, caring for the young stock and helping with the summer haying. He then had more time to train and work with many teams of horses over the years. He took great pleasure in giving wagon and sleigh rides, being in parades and going to plowing and sap gathering contests. Everyone admired his special way with those huge, gentle giants.

Later in life, he grew a garden big enough to feed the entire neighborhood. And goodness help any weed that dared sprout — they didn’t last long!

He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Alice; three daughters, Linda Murgatroy and her husband Bill of Lempster, N.H., Janet Silkonis and her husband John of Gardner, Mass., and Sandra Messer and her husband Bob of Wilmot, N.H.; two sons, Kenneth S. and his wife Janice of Springfield, and Keith and his wife Kellie of Weathersfield; eight grandchildren, Paul Buskey of Midlothian, Va., Ryan Buskey of Charlotte, N.C., Jeffrey Cleveland of Watertown, Mass., Katie Safran of Saugus, Mass., Tia Messer of Denver, Colo., Ryan Messer of New London, N.H., Kenneth R. Young of Springfield, Vt., and Julie Young Shute of Brownsville, Vt.; five great-grandchildren, Reagan and Parker Buskey of Midlothian, Va., Anna and Alexa Buskey of Charlotte, N.C., and Isabella Safran of Saugus, Mass.; also by many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his three brothers, Lt. Cmdr. USN Gerald Young, Allan Young and Clyde “Butch” Young; and by his three sisters, June Hyde, Dorothy Peoples and Beverly Harris.

Friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, February 26, 2013, at the Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield, Vt.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, at the First Congregational Church UCC on Main Street in Springfield, Vt. Reverend Jean O’Bresky, pastor, and Reverend David Crosby will co-officiate.